Mechanism and method for assembling and attaching container blanks



Jan. 8, 1957 P. E. FISCHER ETAL 2,776,606

MECHANISM AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING AND ATTACHING CONTAINER BLANKS Filed March 31, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet l MJZZZM Jan. 8', 1957 E P. .FISCHER ETAL 2,776,606 MECHANISM AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING AND ATTACHING CONTAINER BLANKS Filed March 31, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1957 P E. FISCHER ET AL 2,776,606

MECHANISM AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING AND ATTACHING CONTAINER BLANKS Filed March 31, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 8, 1957 P. E. FISCHER ET AL 2,776,606

MECHANISM AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING AND ATTACHING CONTAINER BLANKS Filed March 31, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 8, 1957 P. E. FISCHER ET AL 2,776,606

MECHANISM AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING AND ATTACHING CONTAINER BLANKS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 51, 1952 United States Patent MECHANISM AND METHQD FOR ASSEMBLING AND ATTACHING CONTAINER BLANKS Paul E. Fischer, Minneapolis, Robert S. Hedin, St. Paul, Charles H. Swanson, Minneapolis, and Henry E. Wiss man, St. Paul, Minn., assignors to General Mills, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Application March 31, 1952, Serial No 279,616

Claims. (Cl. 9336.6)

This invention relates to improvements in mechanisms for joining a plurality of thermoplastic coated container blanks. More specifically the invention relates to a mechanism which will sever blanks from a continuously fed web of container material having a layer of thermoplastic adhesive thereon and position the blanks on a second sheet of container material and join the two sheets together by heating limited areas of the thermoplastic material to maintain the blanks in their fixed relative positions.

A mechanism in which joining a plurality of container blanks in this manner is generally disclosed is the copending patent application, Mechanism for Preparing Blanks, Serial Number 279,619, filed March 31, 1952, by the present inventors. The present invention presents an improved mechanism for applying and attaching an additional blank to a previously prepared blank and especially to a device which is capable of registering the additional blank on the prepared blank in a precise position and attaching the blank in that exact position in high speed operation.

In laminating a plurality'of blanks which are to be used in the formation of a multiple-layered carton, it is essential that the blanks be in accurate registry with each other. If this registry is not present, the box'will not fold correctly as the sides, panels and top flaps will not lie properly with relation to each other. In automatic folding machinery improperly registered blanks will cause the machinery to jam, causing machinery breakage and costly delays. In addition to placing the blanks in the proper registry in the first place, they must'be kept in the proper position relative to each other as well as remaining properly oriented in the machine.

The machine embodying the present invention contemplates operation on sheets of blank material constructed of metal foil which is extremely difficult to handle, especially at high speeds. Metallic foil, when curved, folded or otherwise deformed, will not spring back to its original shape as will paper and other packaging materials. Extremely thin metallic foil is desirable for packaging as it will be economical and yet form a superior air and moisture barrier. Because of the thinness, however, it must be handled with the application of a minimum of pressure to avoid permanent deformation. Another handling requirement is that, when operating at high speed, the operational time for each machine element must be kept at a minimum. The present apparatus joins and fixes a plurality of sheets together at high speed and in accurate registry with the use of a thermoplastic adhesive performing its operations in a minimum of time and avoiding actions which might deform the material.

The blanks are secured together in proper registry by a narrow thermoplastic seal extending across the material. This seal lies within an area which represents only one of the side walls of the completed carton. If more than two sheets are to be joined, all seals must lie within this area, making it necessary that the location of the seal be exact. With the layers of material joined Patented Jan. 8, 1957 in this limited area, the layers of material will be able to shift with respect to each other when the multiple layered blank is folded to form a carton. The multiple layered blank and carton are fully disclosed in the co-pending application entitled Multi-Layered Container and Method of Making, Serial Number 279,618, filed March 31, 1952, Fischer, Swanson and Wissman.

Accordingly an object of the invention is to provide a mechanism which, under rapid Operating conditions, will lay a blank of soft container material, such as metallic foil, on another container blank, in accurate registry and attach the blanks together Within a definite and limited area.

Another object is to provide a machine which will form the attachment between blanks with a thermoplastic adhesive to form unfailing bond between the sheet and which is capable of maintaining the sheets in their fixed registry with respect to each other through successive folding operations and which will not impair the impregnability and strength of the carton wall when the entire area is bonded together to complete the container.

A still further object is to provide an improved attaching drum for registering container blanks on other blanks, which has a heated attaching element in the surface constructed to soften the thermoplastic coating on a limited and definite area of the blanks, so that the blanks will immediately adhere to each other on contact.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from following specification, taken in connection with the drawing, in which;

Figure 1 is a side elevation sectioned by a vertical plane of the sheet laminating mechanism, being partially in section;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the mechanism for severing the blank from the web;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the drive mechanism for the machine; 1

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the laminating machine, having parts removed for clarity, showing the outer container blank entering the machine;

Fig. 5 is a View of the mechanism of Fig. 4 showing a container blank being positioned on the outer blank;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation of a sector of the laminating cylinder, having portions broken away for clarity;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of the end of the laminating cylinder having the outer portion broken away to show the heated attaching element;

Fig. 8 is a greatly enlarged sectional view showing the action of the heating surface on the liner blank;

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the laminating cylinder having the lower portion broken away;

Fig. 10 is a front elevation of the laminating cylinder and associated mechanism, having portions removed for clarity;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the electrical contact devices for the heater elements;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged vertical section showing the placement of the ventilating holes in the laminating cylinder;

Fig. 13 is a front elevation of the laminating cylinder having a portion of the surface broken away to show the heating element;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the outer container blank;

Fig. 15 is a perspective View of the outer blank with a second blank registered on and attached to the blank;

Fig. 16 is a greatly enlarged view of a portion of the blank material showing the pattern of the heating element;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view, greatly enlarged, taken along lines 1717 of Fig. 14, showing the layers which comprise the sheet of outer cover material; and

Fig. 18 is a sectional view, greatly enlarged, taken along lines 18-48 of Fig. 15, showing the layers which comprise the inner liner sheet of material.

The mechanism illustrated, showing the preferred embodiment of our invention, may be used to operate in the machine shown in the co-pending application, Mechanism for Preparing Blanks, Serial Number 279,619, filed March 31, 1952, by the present inventors. The mechanism shown, however, may be embodied in various machines.

The machine is designed to superimpose a blank of material on another blank in a definite relation and .to attach the blanks so that they will retain that position with respect to each other throughout the course of tae succeeding operations. 4

The blanks on which the preferred embodiment of the machine may operate include an outer container or wrapper blank. To this an inner liner blank is attached, the composite unit to be later suitably folded into carton shape. Additional liner blanks may be attached to this combination by use of the present machine according to the number of layers desired. If a further blank .is attached, the second blank will become the intermediate blank lying between the inner and outer walls of the finished carton. According to the teachings of the above mentioned co-pending application, the blanks are attached along a limited area which lies within the limits of one wall of the carton. This permits slippage'betwcen the blanks and prevents wrinkling which will occur if the sheets are attached over an area extending beyond the limits of one wall of the carton.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a web of container lining material is fed from a roll, and liner blanks are individually severed from the web and applied to a cover or outer blank. These outer blanks are prepared and fed to the present machine by any suitable mechanism.

The lining blanks may be of any material, such as metallic foil, paper, or fibreboarcl material, which is coated with a layer of thermoplastic adhesive on the surface. The adhesive is heated, and when cooled, will cause the liner material to adhere to the outer carton blank. The covering blank need be of no special material and is not required to be coated with thermoplastic adhesive.

The blanks are shown in section in Figs. 17 and 18, used with the preferred embodiment. The outer blank is comprised of a metallic foil outer layer 19 with a coating of thermoplastic 2d and a layer of paper 21 covering the thermoplastic. The porous paper serves as a binder and, in joining the sheets, the liquid heated thermoplastic adhesive penetrates the paper. The sheet which may be used as a liner or as an intermediate sheet depending upon whether an additional sheet is attached to it, is shown in section in Fig. 18. It is comprised of a sheet of porous paper 22, having layers of thermoplastic 23 and 24 on both sides of the sheet. It is to be understood that the mechanism shown could operate on sheets of various compositions having thermoplastic placed between them.

Referring to the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, a web 25 of liner material is fed along a supporting table 26 which is carried by the framework of the machine 27. The web passes over the roller 28 and then downwardly over roller 29. The web thus positioned threads around feed roller 39, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5, and between feed roller 39 and feed roller 31 and passes around the feed roller 31.

The web is pressed against the under side of the drive roller by an idling roller 32 which is mounted between pivotal carriers 33. A spring 34 connects between the frame and a lower extension 35 on the pivotal carriers to urge the roller 32 against the roller 31 holding the material between them. This latter roller holds the material tight to insure a positive feed and prevents the end of the material from falling down when a blank is severed from the web. The drive rollers 30 and 31. rotate at a constant speed. The arrangement of rollers insures positive friction between the web and rollers and eliminates any possibility of slippage which would cause a liner blank of inadequate size to be severed from the web.

The forward end of the web then passes between lower and upper guides 36 and 38 to the cutting mechanism, the upper guide being carried by a rod 40 supported by a carrying bracket 4-2 secured on the frame. The rod is adjustable in the bracket to correctly position the space between the guides to accommodate the web.

To sever liner blanks from the web, the web passes between a cutting cylinder 44 and a cutting bar 46. The cutting cylinder carries a knife 48 suitably secured to the cylinder. Cutting bar 46 is secured to a portion of the framework by a stud 49. The bar has an enlarged hole 5% through which the stud passes which permits adjustment of the position of the bar to optimum cutting position with respect to the knife 48 which protrudes from the surface of the cylinder 44. The cutting cylinder rotates at a constant speed in counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, and for each revolution the knife will pass the cutting .bar to sever a blank from the forward end of the web. The forward end of the web passes beneath the cuttercylindcr and between fixed lower and upper guides 54 and 56.

The cutting cylinder is provided with a depressor shoe 57, Fig. 2, which is an arcuate plate passing partially around the cylinder and trailing from the cutting knife. As the cylinder rotates and the blank is cut from the web, the forward severed end of the web must pass beneath the guide 56 which must be positioned far enough from the cutting cylinder so that the knife 48 will clear it. The severed end of the web 59, as shown in Fig. 2, after cutting would normally curl upwardly behind the protruding knife and, moving forwardly, would not pass underneath the guide 56 but would pass above it to jam the machine. The depressor shoe 57, however, holds down the severed end of the web to cause it to pass under the guide.

The forward end of the Web, as it moves ahead, is caught between the laminating drum or cylinder 58, which rotates clockwise as viewed in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, and the tension belts 60.

The laminating cylinder rotates at a greater linear speed than the speed of the delivery rollers. Since the friction between the web and feeding rollers is much greater than between the laminating cylinder and web, it is obvious that slippage must occur between the higher speed laminating cylinder and web. This slippage places a tension on the web which. aids in severing the blank. The slippage continues until the knife rotates past the cutting bar to sever a blank from the web. At that point the blank will advance forward at a linear speed greater than that of the web, leaving a continually broadening space between the trailing edge of the blank 61 and the forward end 63 of the severed web 14-8, as shown in Fig. 5. The speed differential between the lamina-ting cylinder and the web delivery rollers provides an output of spaced liner blanks from a constant speed web delivery mechanism. A heater block or bar 6.2 is carried by the laminating cylinder and has uniquely shaped outer surface 64 to contact the liner blank. The unique shape of the surfaces will be described in detail at a later point in the specification. The bar extends through an axially extending slot 66 in the surface of the cylinder, as shown in Figs. 7, 9, it) and 13. The blank contacting surfaces of the heater bar are rounded, forming an arc swung from the rotational axis of the cylinder, as shown in Fig. 7. The surfaces extend slightly above the surface of the cylinder, preferably in the order of .005" to press against the surface of the liner blank and to insure positive contact between the heated portions of the liner blank and the carton covering blank.

The laminating cylinder is hollow, being constructed of a cylindrical shell 58 (Figs. 7 and 10) having removable end walls 70.

The heater bar has studs 72 tapped at an angle to the ends thereof which are backed against inwardly facing beveled surfaces 74 Within the cylinder at the ends of the cylinder slot 66 to adjust the axial position of the heater. Insulator pins 76, Fig. 7, mounted in the heater bar bear against the similar inwardly facing beveled surfaces 78 along the side of the slot. A stud 80, having a recessed head is turned against a header 82 within the cylinder being reached through a bore 84 in the face of the heater bar. Studs 86 are threaded into the header 82 and abut the heater bar to hold it rigid.

A pair of Calrod heating elements or the like 88, controllable by an adjustable thermostat 90, keep the heater bar at the desired temperature. One of the ventilation ports 92 in the end wall 70 of the laminating cylinder gives access to the thermostat. Power is provided for the elements through leads 94 extending through the hollow bearing shaft 96 extending axially from the end wall of the cylinder. The leads connect to slip rings 98 shown in detail in Fig. 11, which are contacted by brushes 100 carried by an insulator ring 102 and fed by power line leads 1% connected to the terminals 106.

To hold the container blank to the surface of the revolving laminating cylinder and to especially hold the blank in secure contact with the heater bar, a pair of flexible belts 69, Figs. 1, 4 and 5, bears against an area of the drum surface. These belts are preferably of canvas or similar porous material which is durable and sufficiently flexible as not to be affected by thermoplastic material building up on the belts. The belts are carried on rollers 128 and 130 spaced from each other along the arc of the surface of the cylinder. The belt also passes over drive roller 132 which drives the belt at the same linear speed as the periphery of the drum. A tightener 134 bears against the belts to keep them snugly against the drum surface. The tightener comprises a roller 136 bearing against the belt supported on a bracket 138 pivotally mounted on .a boss 140 projecting from the frame 142, this frame supporting all of the belt carrying rollers. A spring 144 carried on a holder 146 bears against the bracket 138 to urge the roller 136 tightly against the belt.

The outer container blanks 147, to which the thermoplastic coated inner blanks 148 are applied, are carried past the cylinder by conveyor chains 150 which have lugs 152 to engage the rear edge of the blank. The lugs are spaced a distance apart so that the outer blanks are spaced on the conveyor chain. The spacing of the inner blanks is obtained by the fact that the laminating cylinder 58 turns at a higher speed than the rollers for feeding the Web. The cylinder rotates, however, at the same peripheral speed as the travel of the conveyor chain so that the blanks are applied to the blanks n the chain without any slippage occurring therebetween.

Grooves 154 are cut in the cylinder to allow for passage of the conveyor chain lugs as is shown in detail in Fig. it). The conveyor chain is suitably driven and slides on guides 156 supported on the framework 158. The blanks slide on guide rails 160 and a center rail 162 and the edges are kept flat by sliding in channels 164 in lateral guides 166 positioned along the sides of the path of travel of the blanks. A roller 168 is positioned beneath the laminating cylinder 58 and supplies a vertical base of reactance for the blank as it passes beneath the cylinder. Additional guides 1'70 are provided beyond the cylinder to hold the blanks flat, being supported on rods 172 secured to the frame.

To prevent the thermoplastic coated blank from sticking to the laminating cylinder 53, a set of separator fingers 174 (Fig. 6), extends into grooves 176 in the cylinder. As the blank 148 is carried down on the cylinder, the lower edge of the separating finger 174 6 catches the forward end of the blank 148 to peel it' off the cylinder.

It will be observed that, since the blank is to be heated in a localized area to melt the thermoplastic in a very limited area, the remainder of the cylinder must be kept cool enough so that it does not melt the thermoplastic on the blank. To achieve this cooling, ports 173 (Fig. 12) are provided in the cylinder. These portions are located in grooves 154 and 18% which are cut in the surface of the cylinder. Ports are bored at an angle to the radii of the cylinder in the direction in which the cylinder rotates so as to catch the air and force it into the hollow interior. The flow of air is indicated by the arrows 181 (Figs. 10 and 12). Outlet ports 182 are cut in the end of the cylinder to permit this cooling air to be expelled from the interior, thereby insuring a continuous circulation of air to keep the cylinder surface cool.

The outer face 64 of the heater bar, which is exposed through the slot in the laminating cylinder, has a preferred configuration which we have found greatly increases the strength of the bond between the sheets. The face of the bar is marked by channel 186 extending axially, as shown in Fig. 7, and a series of channels 188 (shown in Figs. 10 and 13). This divides the surface into two rows of raised rectangular heating areas 190. Each area has diagonal grooves 15 2 which divide the rectangular area into four triangular areas (as shown in Fig. 9). The imprint left in the blank by each of these raised areas is shown in Fig. 16.

When carton material having a coating of thermoplastic adhesive such as wax, is contacted by a heated area, the heat is conducted to the thermoplastic. The heat conducts in all directions from the heated area resulting, therefore, in the thermoplastic at the center of the area reaching the highest temperature. The fluidity or viscosity, being proportional to its temperature, ranges from a thin liquid at the center of the area to solid at the edges of the area. The cooler wax at the edge of the area is tacky and has adhesive property, while the hot wax does not gain that property until it partly cools. This pattern of thermoplastic of different temperatures is shown in Fig. 16. The areas 187, contacted directly by the surface of the heated element, are of molten thermoplastic, while the fringe areas 189 bounded by the dotted lines are of semi-heated, moretacky thermoplastic. These latter areas will be the first to solidify. When a liner blank, having heated areas of thermoplastic, is pressed to a relatively cold outer blank, the cooler portion of the molten thermoplastic adhesive solidifies immediately, as the heat is transmitted to the colder blank. These solidified areas hold the two sheets together in perfect registry until the hotter Wax can become cool to strengthen the bond. The hotter wax, being completely liquid, penetrates deeper into the liner sheet before solidifying and thereby creates a stronger bond between the sheets. it will be especially noted that the number of areas of semi-heated wax is greatly increased by the arrangement of the heating surface into separate areas.

Thu it will be seen that by providing a large number of preheated areas of tacky thermoplastic, they will hold the blanks firmly bonded until the hotter melted wax has had opportunity to penetrate into the fiber of the other blank and cool. Thus the blanks will become positively and firmly united.

Another purpose'for the configuration of the face of the heater bar 62, is that when the face of the heater bar presses the two sheets together, a quantity of molten wax is squeezed outwardly toward the edge of the pressure area, forming a bead of thermoplastic at that point and leaving a semi-dry area where the pressure has been.

This bead creates a stronger weld or bonding point between the sheets than does the dry area. It will be seen that with the design of separated heater areas, each area 7 will form a rectangular heated spot surrounded by a ead of thermoplastic. This ridge is shown at 1.93 in Fig. 8. 'In addition, .a ridge 195 of material is formed diagonally of the area :by the grooves 192.

As the laminating cylinder rotates, the heater areas 190'wi1l press the liner sheet to the outer sheet with some degree of pressure, driving the molten wax into the porous outer material. As the liner material is separated .fI'OIl'l the heater bar, wax formed at the edges of the heater bar forms a barrier to air, creating a suction cup effect zto cause the material to stick to the laminating cylinder. By means of the grooves 192, suction is released and :the undesirable suction elfect is avoided, permitting 1116 material to separate .easily from the laminatingcylinder.

Themechan'ism is poweredfrom acommon drive shaft 200 (Fig. 3). A spur gear 202 drives a mating gear 204, which rotates shaft 206 carrying the laminating cylinder 58. Spur gear 2G8, also mounted on the shaft, rotates mating gear 210 to rotate the shaft 212 upon which the lower pressure roller 168 is .carried. Rollers 58 and 168 are rotated so as to have the same peripheral velocity. Gear 204 drives gear 214 which is mounted upon shaft 216 which carries the cutter cylinder 44. A sprocket 218 carries chain 220, which drives sprocket 222 'to rotate the rollers 132, which drive the tension belts 60. These belts are given the same linear velocity as the surface of the laminating cylinder. Spur gear 224 drives gear 226, which drives gear 228 .to rotate :shafts .231 and 232, which carry the Web feeding rollers 31 and 30.

At this point the general operation of the machine .should 'be nve'll :understood. A summary of the over-all operation will, however, .be beneficial to understanding the merits of the invention. The web material 25 passes .down over a series of positioning rollers to be fed into i the machine by the feed rollers 30 and 31. The leading edge of the web is caught between the tensioning belts 60 and the drum 58 which rotates at a higherspeed than the web feeding rollers. As the cutter cylinder 44 rotates, the blade 48, cooperating with the cutter bar 46, severs a blank from the web. After cutting the slippage :between the drum 5.8 and :blank .148 immediately ceases and the material is carried downwardly .at a higher speed to be joined with the-outer blank 147. The depressor shoe 57 on the cutter cylinder defiectsithe severed vend 59 of the web downwardly to direct it vto pass under the guide 56. As the blank 148 is carried downwardly by the laminating cylinder, its leading edge passes beneath the face of the separating finger 174 which separates -it from the laminating .cylinder. The liner blank secures itself by means of the molten thermoplastic material to the blank of covering material as the heated area passes between the cylinders 58 and 168 and the laminated blanks are carried by the conveyor chain 150 out of the machine to the left, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Thus it will be seen we have provided a machine which will successfully sever the liner blank from a continuous feed of material, heat a certain area of a liner blank to convert the thermoplastic material into an adhesive state, and aifix liner blanks to the blanks of covering material as :they are intermittently conveyed through the machine.

We have, in the drawings and specification, presented a detailed disclosure .of the preferred embodiment of our invention, but it is to be understood that as the invention is susceptible of modifications, structural changes tainer blanks comprising in combination, :a pair of rollers 8 for feeding a'web of carton forming material, .a cylinder for receiving said web from said rollers, moving at a faster peripheral speed than the rollers and carrying heating elements at its :surface to heat limited areas of the web, means for holding the web against the surface -of the cylinder and for providing limited sliding movement between the cylinder'and web before the web is severed, and a cutting means for severing the web between the rollers and cylinder after sliding movement etween said cylinder and web, said cutting means including a cutting member moving with the web during the severing step at a speed corresponding to the peripheral speed of the feeding rollers.

2. In a mechanism for assembling and attaching container blanks comprising a laminating cylinder over which passes a web of material having a layer of thermoplastic thereon, a heating element positioned at the surface of said cylinder and having a plurality of separated heating areas to contact the material, all of said areas being located Within a narrow strip extending axially of the cylinder and transversely of the web, and each area having a groove to form a ridge of thermoplastic and reduce the adherence between the sheet and heating element.

3. A mechanism for assembling and attaching container blanks comprising a conveyor carrying spaced sheets of container blanks, a laminating cylinder receiving thermoplastic coated liner material and means feeding a web of liner material to the cylinder, cutting :means positioned between the cylinder and feeding means to sever blanks from the web, and a heating element at the surface of the cylinder having a plurality of separated heating areas contacting the web, all of said areas being located within a narrow strip extending axially of the cylinder and transversely of the web, and the cylinder superimposing the blanks on said spaced sheets.

4. A mechanism for assembling and attaching container blanks, comprising a rotating cylinder, means for feeding container blanks having a thermoplastic coating to the cylinder, a heating element extending axially along the surface of the cylinder as to contact only a narrow transverse strip of a container blank carried on the cyl inder, and means for carrying a second blank tangent to the surface of the cylinder in the peripheral direction of the cylinder and timed to have the face-to-face coated blank brought into registry therewith, the blank-contacting surface of said heating element being divided into separated areas.

5. A mechanism for assembling and attaching container blanks comprising a rotating cylinder, an axially positioned heated bar in the peripheral face of the cylinder, means for feeding thermoplastic coated container blanks to the cylinder to be carried thereon, means for holding the blank to the cylinder surface and against the heated bar, the blank contacting areas of the bar being separated into divided axial rows of rectangular surface, each surface having a pair of diagonally extending grooves to form small triangular shaped blank contacting areas, and means feeding other container blanks tangentially past said cylinder to contact and receive said thermoplastic coated blanks.

6. A mechanism for assembling and attaching container blanks comprising a rotating cylinder, means for feeding blanks of thermoplastic coated carton material to the cylinder, the cylinder having peripheral channels cut therein with the areas between the channels being heated to soften the thermoplastic coating of the blanks, a conveyor carrying second blanks tangentially past the cylinder to receive said first blanks, and a separating finger extending into one of the channels and positioned at a location to separate the thermoplastic coated blank from the cylinder after being brought in contact with the second blank, said finger preventing undesired adhesion of the blank to said heated areas.

7. A mechanism for assembling and attaching con- 9 tainer blanks comprising a rotating laminating cylinder for registering a thermoplastic coated first blank on a second blank, means for feeding the first blank to be carried on the cylinder, means for feeding the second blank past the cylinder to receive the first blank, a heated surface in the face of the cylinder to soften the coating on the first blank, grooves extending around the cylinder being continuous through the heated surface, and separating fingers extending into the grooves to separate the first blank from the laminating cylinder, said fingers engaging the blank and stripping it from the adjacent heated surface.

8. A mechanism for assembling and attaching container blanks comprising a rotating hollow cylinder for registering a thermoplastic coated container blank on a second container blank, means for feeding the first blank to the drum, a heated area on the surface of the drum to soften the thermoplastic on theblank, means to carry the second blank to the cylinder to receive the first blank from the cylinder, inlet ports in the surface of the cylinder for entry of air to cool the interior of the cylinder, and outlet ports in the cylinder for outlet of cooling air, said inlet ports being inclined with reference to the radius of the cylinder, with the opening of the port at the cylinder surface receiving air and forcing it into the cylinder in response to rotation of the cylinder.

9. A mechanism for assembling and attaching container blanks comprising means for feeding a series of spaced container blanks along a path, means for carrying a series of thermoplastic coated container blanks into registry with the first blanks and attaching them thereto, means for feeding the continuous web of thermoplastic coated material to said carrying means, a cutter bar positioned adjacent the web, a drum rotatably carrying a cutting knife past the cutting bar to sever a length of thermoplastic coated material from the web, a guide positioned between the cutter bar and carrying means, and a deflector shoe carried on the cutting drum behind the cutting knife to deflect the severed end of the Web downwardly insuring its passage beneath said guide.

10. A mechanism for assembling and attaching container blanks comprising means for continuously feeding a web of thermoplastic coated container material, means for feeding a series of outer container blanks along a path, means for carrying thermoplastic coated container blanks severed from said web into the path to register the thermoplastic coated blanks on the outer blanks, and cutting means positioned between the means for feeding the web and the carrying cylinder comprising a cutting bar, a cooperating cutting knife carried past the bar to sever a blank from the Web of thermoplastic coated material, a rotating drum carrying the knife protruding from its surface, and a section of increased diameter on the drum trailing the protruding cutting knife to deflect the severed edge of the thermoplastic coated material when fed to said carrying means.

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